Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage ​Park grounds and trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset free of charge.

​Guided tours are offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the second and fourth weekend of the month from May through October.

​Special group tours can be arranged by calling 703-366-3049. Please note: no restroom concessions or camping facilities are available on site.

​Visit this historic and natural treasure at the corner of Iron Bridge Unit Avenue and Tenth Alabama Way in Bristow, VA. just off Bristow Road.

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park is a 140-acre historic site in western Prince William County.

Here, Federal and Confederate soldiers fought the Battle of Kettle Run on August 27, 1862 and the Battle of Bristoe Station on October 14, 1863.

This peaceful landscape features more than 2.7 miles of walking and equestrian trails. Wildlife abounds in the fields, woods, and ponds.

What Happened Here?

A quiet section of Prince William County for hundreds of years, during the American Civil War two battles and numerous troop encampments occurred at Bristoe Station. While small compared to other Civil War battles, the August 1862 Battle of Kettle Run and the October 1863 Battle of Bristoe Station produced hundreds of casualties that were felt from Minnesota to New York and from North Carolina to Louisiana. Evidence of people who occupied this land remains in the park's road traces, buildings, and cemeteries.

Civil War Encampments

Drawn by the railroad and the nearby water supply, from 1861 through 1864 numerous encampments sprang up around Bristoe Station. After 1st Manassas a large Confederate encampment known as Camp Jones spread throughout the fields at Bristoe. Later many Federal camps were located here, with the largest being made by Pennsylvanians in 1863. Learn more about the Civil War encampments at Bristoe Station .

Battle of Kettle Run

In August 1862 the Civil War returned to Prince William County. As part of the 2nd Manassas Campaign, Confederate soldiers under Stonewall Jackson captured the railroad at Bristoe Station before capturing the warehouses of food at Manassas. On the afternoon of August 27, 1862 the small, but deadly, Battle of Kettle Run was fought at Bristoe Station, the first of a series of battles known as 2nd Manassas. Learn more about the Battle of Kettle Run.

Battle of Bristoe Station

In the fall of 1863 both the Northern and Southern armies were recuperating after the Battle of Gettysburg. After troops from both armies were sent west to Tennessee, Confederate General Robert E. Lee attempted to repeat his 2nd Manassas Campaign. Unlike the previous August, Lee's campaign was defeated on October 14, 1863 at the Battle of Bristoe Station. Learn more about the Battle of Bristoe Station.

You can also follow the path of the battle on this Bristoe Station Battle Map. You can also view moments in time and follow troop movement during this terrible battle:

*2004 - Centex Homes, Civil War Trust, and Prince William County collaborate to preserve 130 acres of the Bristoe Station Battlefield

*2007 – Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park opens to the public

Bristoe Station Campaign Mobile Tour!

Explore the Bristoe Station Campaign with the mobile tour! The tour includes seven stops on a 50-mile route that spans between Prince William and Fauquier counties and takes visitors on some of the same roads soldiers traveled during the 1863 Bristoe Station Campaign. Stops include Bristoe Station, Brentsville Courthouse, Buckland, the Old Jail Museum in Warrenton and Rappahannock Station. Link here for the tour.

Volunteers Needed!

We are also looking for Civil War and Nature Enthusiasts to help with tours at this beautiful site. If you are interested in joining our team to protect the historic and natural resources of our community, please contact us at 703-366-3049.

Visiting Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park

Bristoe Station Battlefield is located at the corner of Iron Brigade Unit Avenue and Tenth Alabama Way.

From Interstate 95: Take Rt. 234 North (Exit 152B); travel 7.5 miles and make a left onto Independent Hill Drive. Then make your immediate right onto Rt. 619 (Bristow Road). Travel 7 miles and turn left onto Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. The parking lot is located on your left at the traffic circle.

From Interstate 66: Take Rt. 234 South (Exit 44). Travel 4.5 miles and turn right onto Rt. 28 (Nokesville Road). Travel 1.5 miles and turn left onto Rt. 619 (Bristow Road). Travel .25 miles and turn right onto Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. The parking lot is located on your left at the traffic circle.

For general information about historic preservation and sites in Prince William County, call 703-792-4754.